BERNARDSVILLE — The borough council has given the green light for Paraguayan expatriates living in the area to vote in their original country's upcoming presidential election — here in their adopted country.

Nationals from the South American country of Paraguay who live in the Bernardsville area will vote in that country's presidential election from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Bernardsville train station on Mine Brook Road. The station is also the site of the Bernardsville Depot Deli.

"To paraphrase some folks from the Paraguayan community, this is an historic event," Councilman John Farrell told NJ.com Wednesday. "It is the first time that Paraguayan expatriates will be permitted to partake in an election directly, while out of the country."

A Paraguyan group representing their consulate in New York made the request at for use of the train station, which the borough leases from NJ Transit. The council at its Monday meeting voted to grant a permit for the use as long as the consulate provides staffing and security that would meet the approval of the borough police, as well as a certificate of insurance covering any potential liability.

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"I just received an email from council legal representation that the Paraguayan community and consulate have fulfilled all conditions stipulated in Monday's motion to give permission for the Paraguayan election to take place at the train station on Sunday," Farrell said.

Farrell said the Paraguayans have given the borough appropriate proof of insurance and a "hold harmless" agreement. Police Chief Kevin Valentine has approved the consulate's security proposal, including the hiring of two off-cuty police officers, paid for in advance by the consulate, Farrell said.

About 435 Paraguayan nationals who registered to vote in this election last fall will be eligible to vote Sunday in Bernardsville, Farrell said. There are also voting sites in New York state — in Valhalla, Westchester County, and Flushing, Queens — for residents of those areas, Farrell said.

The election pits millionaire businessman and political newcomer Horacio Cartes Cartes, 56, who hopes to get the rightist Colorado Party back in office after four years, and Efrain Alegre, 50, of the ruling center-right Liberal Party that took over the presidency in June, when the Paraguayan Congress impeached left-leaning President Fernando Lugo, a former Roman Catholic bishop, according to a report on the Reuters news service.

"From my perspective, there's something kind of neat about it," Farrell said. "If you could imagine yourself, working overseas — London, Buenos Aires, what have you — and the American government set up a process by which you could travel to a (local) site and cast your vote, that would be pretty exciting."

The Consulate General of Paraguay in New York did not return calls or emails for comment.